JJ Wetherholt, SS, Cardinals: MVP-caliber 2025 and early MLB impact potential
Wetherholt (pictured above) had a breakout season in 2025, cementing himself as one of baseball’s elite young bats and a strong contender to factor into 2026 Rookie of the Year discussions. Across Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, he slashed .306/.421/.510 with a .931 OPS, contributing 17 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 109 games while showing excellent on-base skills and speed. He also earned organizational and league honors, being named the Cardinals’ Minor League Player of the Year and the Texas League MVP — rare distinctions for a player his age.
Wetherholt’s 2025 performance combined mature plate discipline with power growth — the kind of balanced profile that has evaluators projecting him toward a significant role in St. Louis in 2026. With versatility shown across the infield and already excelling at Triple-A, he is poised to push for an Opening Day roster spot and could rack up counting stats early in his big-league tenure. Recent coverage suggests he’s expected to play a key offensive role for the Cardinals in 2026, and if he delivers anywhere near his minor-league production at the MLB level, a Rookie of the Year campaign isn’t out of the question.
Kevin McGonigle, 2B/SS, Tigers: Elite contact, AFL MVP, and 2026 ROY upside
McGonigle put together one of the most analytically impressive offensive seasons among all 2025 minor leaguers, making him another strong candidate for a 2026 Rookie of the Year push. Though his season was shortened due to injury, he slashed .305/.408/.583 with 19 home runs, 80 RBIs, and outstanding plate discipline, evidenced by a 182 wRC+ — the highest among over 1,000 qualified minor leaguers.
McGonigle capped his campaign with a standout showing in the Arizona Fall League, where he was named AFL MVP after slashing .362/.500/.710 over 88 plate appearances, showcasing both power and on-base ability against high-end pitching. Even in a crowded Tigers infield picture, Detroit’s offseason planning indicates he’s firmly in the mix for a 2026 big-league opportunity, with flexibility to play multiple infield spots and advanced metrics validating his offensive profile. If he earns regular playing time and replicates his minor-league production at the MLB level, his combination of run creation and power could well put him in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
The Top 30 players in this week’s updated RotoProspects Top 700 Prospect Rankings
The Top 100 can be found HERE (no subscription required). For the complete list, CLICK HERE (subscription required).
| No. | Name | Pos | Team | B/T | Level | Age |
| 1 | Konnor Griffin | OF | PIT | R/R | High-A | 20 |
| 2 | Leo De Vries | SS | ATH | L/R | AA | 19 |
| 3 | Jesus Made | SS | MIL | S/R | AA | 19 |
| 4 | Walker Jenkins | OF | MIN | L/R | AAA | 21 |
| 5 | Kevin McGonigle | 2B/SS | DET | L/R | AA | 21 |
| 6 | Sebastian Walcott | SS | TEX | R/R | AA | 20 |
| 7 | Samuel Basallo | C/1B | BAL | L/R | MLB | 21 |
| 8 | Sal Stewart | 1B/3B | CIN | R/R | MLB | 22 |
| 9 | JJ Wetherholt | SS | SL | L/R | AAA | 23 |
| 10 | Nolan McLean | SP | NYM | R/R | MLB | 24 |
| 11 | Max Clark | OF | DET | L/L | AA | 21 |
| 12 | Bubba Chandler | SP | PIT | S/R | MLB | 23 |
| 13 | Jonah Tong | SPRP | NYM | R/R | MLB | 23 |
| 14 | Trey Yesavage | SP | TOR | R/R | MLB | 22 |
| 15 | Thomas White | SP | MIA | L/L | AA | 21 |
| 16 | Josue De Paula | OF | LAD | L/L | High-A | 21 |
| 17 | Luis Pena | SS | MIL | R/R | High-A | 19 |
| 18 | Andrew Painter | SP | PHI | R/R | AAA | 23 |
| 19 | Jett Williams | SS | NYM | R/R | AAA | 22 |
| 20 | Bryce Eldridge | 1B | SF | L/R | MLB | 21 |
| 21 | Owen Caissie | OF | CHC | L/R | AAA | 23 |
| 22 | Edward Florentino | 1B/OF | PIT | L/R | Single-A | 19 |
| 23 | Carter Jensen | C | KC | L/R | MLB | 22 |
| 24 | Travis Bazzana | 2B | CLE | L/R | AAA | 23 |
| 25 | Zyhir Hope | OF | LAD | L/L | AA | 21 |
| 26 | Moises Ballesteros | C/1B | CHC | L/R | MLB | 22 |
| 27 | Spencer Jones | OF | NYY | L/L | AAA | 25 |
| 28 | Chase Burns | SP | CIN | R/R | MLB | 23 |
| 29 | Bryce Rainer | SS | DET | L/R | Single-A | 20 |
| 30 | Ethan Holliday | SS | COL | L/R | Single-A | 19 |